[CAUT] pin drop

[Paul Milesi]

I'm 55, am (was?) a professional jazz pianist, began studying piano
technology at age 50, have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my new
pursuit, have met with considerable success as an independent technician,
and just this year joined the Department of Music at Howard University in
our Nation's Capital as a part-time technician (about 80 pianos in the
inventory, but really only about 50 active), and have never planned to
retire.  It just doesn't seem like it would be fun!

Being small of stature and starting in my 50s, I have never felt that I
could undertake 4 tunings a day, rebuilding, moving, or other very heavy
work.  I undertake some re-pinning (tuning pins), lots of grand action
reconditioning/rebuilding.  Tuning in jazz clubs and jazz festivals, I put
on plenty of strings.  Being at the University is augmenting my skill set,
teaching me case and bench repairs (using a drill more often than before!).
I do plan to be installing sets of hammers at the Universtiy, but I may
order them pre-hung.

Being healthy, I do hope to be able to sustain my present work pace until
I'm at least 70.  I must acknowledge, however, that my energy has flagged in
my 50s, as compared to even 40s.  Hopefully the slowdown can be slowed
through healthy habits; trying to learn some of those now (jazz musician).
:)

I personally know one person in their 20s who attended North Bennett Street
and graduated as an RPT last year.  Spiritually, I think the work we do
requires that a person be in a certain "space" that most young people,
myself included, are not in.  But those of us meant to find this work, do
find it, and always will.  Fortunately -- because as I pianist I can attest
that it's extremely important work, often unsung, but important nonetheless.
-- 
Paul Milesi, RPT
Howard University Department of Music
College of Arts and Sciences, Division of Fine Arts
2455 Sixth Street NW
Washington, DC 20059
University:  (202) 806-4565
Home:  (202) 667-3136
Cell:  (202) 246-3136
E-mail:  paul at pmpiano.com
Website:  http://www.pmpiano.com


> From: Susan Kline <skline at peak.org>
> Reply-To: <caut at ptg.org>
> Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:18:18 -0700
> To: <caut at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] pin drop
> 
> 
>> Everyone is getting fatter...
> 
> True enough! But maybe the demographic problem is with the
> benches, not the students and profs. Were most of them bought
> at around the same time? Maybe they all are getting decrepit
> and senile at once?
> 
> Come to that, aren't most of the piano techs getting decrepit
> and (hopefully not) senile in lockstep with each other? Who is
> going to replace us in ten or twenty more years?
> 
> Shall we do a little informal CAUT survey --- how old is
> everybody? Retirements imminent? Plans for how long to keep
> working? (only if you feel like telling us, of course.)
> 
> I consider myself just passing through the outer fringe of
> semi-retirement. I've cut back general work about 30%, but
> still do all the concerts. I've started turning down (or
> trying to pass on) work involving tilting pianos, upright
> players still containing player actions, and square grands.
> I do lots of small repairs, some repinning and rebushing now
> and then, but full stringing and parts replacement I pass on
> to someone who does it full time.
> 
> Susan Kline, 63
> 
> 
> 
> 
>